Lionel Messi: PSG will open contract talks with Argentina star after Qatar World Cup, says Nasser Al-Khelaifi

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi believes that Lionel Messi wants to stay and will open talks with him over a new contract.

Messi joined PSG on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 after he was unable to re-sign with his former club Barcelona after his contract had expired.

That led to him moving to the French capital and his first season was a difficult one, where despite winning Ligue 1, he struggled to reach the peaks he had at the Spanish club, and manager Mauricio Pochettino departed after failing to make an impression on the Champions League.

Last summer Kylian Mbappe elected to remain with PSG after being expected to join Real Madrid on his own free transfer deal, and with the 23-year-old still at the club and with former Barcelona team-mate Neymar also in attack, the second season in France for Messi has been far better.

Last season he scored 11 goals in total but before the break-up ahead of the World Cup he had already notched 12.

In Qatar he has been in exceptional form as his Argentina side have progressed to the final against France, which will be played on Sunday.

The 35-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season and the Argentine had been linked with a return to Barcelona, with various figures at the club suggesting they would always be interested in bringing him back before his retirement, though he is still expected to rejoin in future in a non-playing role.

Another option is believed to be MLS side Inter Miami, part-owned by former Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan and PSG player David Beckham, but Al-Khelaifi told French media outlet RMC that he thinks Messi will stay, and talks over a contract extension will begin after the World Cup.

He said: “I think that if both want to extend the contract, he will stay. We are going to talk after the World Cup, but I confirm a thousand times he is very happy at the club, he’s having a great season, he’s adapted to French football.

“I think he wants to stay.”